Proper water sector development

The United Kingdom water industry is ideally placed to work in partnership with local interests to help promote and develop the Bulgarian water sector. This is the message Environment Minister Michael Meacher is relaying to authorities in Sofia this week, when he leads a UK water industry trade mission to Bulgaria.

As he departed for a whistle-stop visit with a high-level business team from the UK, Mr Meacher said: "Water companies in the United Kingdom have business expertise and experience that is valuable anywhere, and are working successfully throughout the world. They are ideally placed to help promote and develop the water sector in Bulgaria in partnership with Bulgarian water sector interests. We want to work with the Bulgarians and help them develop their water system, by blending our knowledge and skills with their own. Our regulatory system is the toughest in the world. Compliance with it makes UK water companies the best in the world."

Bulgaria faces significant environmental challenges if it is to achieve EU membership. Its water authorities have demonstrated a willingness to consider a range of solutions, which involve the private sector, in order to develop the water supply and wastewater treatment systems in Bulgaria.

The Minister is leading a trade mission which will: meet the Bulgarian Minister of Environment and Water, the Mayor of Sofia and the Deputy Minister of Public Works in order to set out the range of skills and experience available to help Bulgaria develop its water sector; address a seminar in Sofia outlining UK water industry capabilities; meet the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development; and visit Plovdiv Water Company and Sewage Department to see at first hand the condition of treatment plants; and call on the Mayor of Plovdiv. The mission party will go on to Varna to hold another seminar after the Minister has returned to the UK on 14 July.